can also be found higher up-section. In the lower section diorites and quartz diorites sometimes occur. All these granitoid intrusions developed after the formation of the nappe structures towards the end of the Variscan orogeny. Structural development During the Variscan orogeny the Canaveilles Group was not only metamorphosed but also strongly deformed. In the Canigou Massif the group's metasediments together with the gneisses and the augengneisses were folded into a gigantic flat-lying isoclinal fold. Due to shearing in the fold limbs two nappe units formed which were later deformed plastically (internal folding) and buckled anticlinally. Upon reaching the brittle regime the continuing shortening led to thrusting and backthrusting (especially along the south side of Mount Canigou). Since several revisions of the intrusion age of the orthogneisses now all find a lower Ordovician age of 474 million years for the last crystallisation on zircons, the concept of a Cadomian basement has become highly questionable. This also casts doubts on the presumed isoclinal fold structure, yet the nappes and later deformations rest established. A further consequence of the intrusive character of the orthogneisses resides in the fact, that the underlying paragneisses, once considered to be also of Cadomian age, now have to be attributed to the Canaveilles Group. Most likely these metagreywackes only have undergone a higher degree of metamorphism. References Sources Jaffrezo, M. (1977). Pyrénées Orientales Corbières. Guides géologiques régionaux. Masson. Geologic groups of Europe Geologic formations of France Geologic formations of Spain Pyrenees